Before you’d done any research, you might be forgiven for thinking that choosing a cargo box for your car would be easy as there are so many options that it can be pretty confusing. Today, we will answer a common question—should I choose a Malone or a Thule cargo box? Here’s our answer:
Both are honestly great choices. Malone is the clear choice for those on a budget while still looking for quality. Thule cargo boxes are the premium option in the cargo box world and have a broader range of higher quality goods.
So, it isn’t necessarily as cut-and-dry as definitely saying one is better than the other. Which one is right for you will depend on your personal needs and what you’re willing to spend. There are pros and cons to both brands, so let’s jump in and try and break them down.
Malone Cargo Box vs Thule? The Face-off
We’ve given you the overview; now, let’s get into the battle between Malone cargo box vs. Thule. But you might still be looking for more information to make your choice. So, let’s look into some of the most important things to consider.
Company overview
There is a clear “winner” in that battle when it comes to company status. They have been building and selling premium cargo box solutions for over three-quarters of a century. They’re currently the biggest manufacturer in the market—throughout the world.
With such a storied history and a clear place at the top of the food chain today, it’s easy to see that Thule is doing something right. They’re here to stay—but that still doesn’t make them automatically the right choice.
Malone is no spring chickens, either. They’ve been market leaders for over twenty years and have been innovating in the sports and automotive storage industry since they started operation. Their underlying goal is always to give the customer the best possible value.
Product Range
So, you can’t look only at the company’s history to make an easy choice here. Both have been doing business for long enough for you to know they’re doing something right. The next thing to consider in the Malone cargo box vs. Thule battle is their product range. Without question, Thule has the greater range:
Product Range Name | Loading Capacity (Litres) |
Thule Vector | 360L – 430 L |
Thule Motion XT | 300L – 610 L |
Thule Force XT | 300L - 500L |
Thule Ranger | 260L – 280L |
That’s four primary ranges, each of which with multiple options for capacity within them. Unfortunately, Malone cargo box fans don’t have such an extensive catalog. Instead of having multiple sizes and options available, Malone only offers the following:
Product Range Name | Loading Capacity (Litres) |
Cargo | 339L –453L |
Profile | 509L |
Malone does have a range of products, but it’s nothing like the same variety as Thule’s range. This is an important consideration when choosing to opt for a Malone cargo carrier. That’s because they might generally not have the size you’re looking for. If not, then Thule could be the better option.
Product Quality
Though Thule won out on the wide range of products they offer, the most important thing is always going to be a quality product for most of us. Let’s look at how the two compare.
Thule is the number one premium brand for cargo box solutions. This is not surprising when you consider how long they have been successful. They offer premium solutions—but at a premium price.
Malone cargo carriers are by no means inferior quality, though. They do offer more of a budget option, and thus their quality will be comparably lower. The design is nonetheless robust and sturdy. Thule may be the better option if you need or just want the best quality, but that’s not to say Malone is poor or inadequate.
Availability
At this point, you might be starting to think you’ve made a decision. But you’ve still got to consider how easy it will be to get your hands on any of these products. Let’s look at the availability of both brands.
Purchasing Options for Thule | Purchasing Options for Malone |
Online retailers | Online Website (US) |
Many third-party retail sellers online/offline (Global) | |
Online marketplaces (Amazon) |
Malone currently does not sell their products on global marketplaces like Amazon. Nonetheless, both are very easy to get your hands on in the right areas. The only problem with Malone is that there are limited third-party sellers outside the US.
Pros and Cons of Malone and Thule
So, we’ve looked in a lot of detail about why Thule or Malone cargo carriers might be best for you. But there are still a lot of specifics to be broken down, so let’s look into the essential pros and cons of each brand.
Malone cargo boxes
Pros | Cons |
Highly affordable, much cheaper than most Thule products | Limited range of options when compared with Thule |
The brand has a wide presence, available in many areas of the world | Cannot boast the considerable market share and track record of Thule |
Convenient and straightforward to use and purchase | Not the same premium quality as Thule |
Thule cargo boxes
Pros | Cons |
Largest roof rack brand in the world | Are considered an expensive option for cargo carrier |
It comes with various options ranging from 260L to 610L |
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Can be purchased from practically anywhere worldwide from themselves or a third-party seller |
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Our conclusion
By now, you should have a sense of what both Malone and Thule can offer in terms of cargo carrying solutions. There are clear advantages to both, but if you have an idea of what you need from your storage solution, this guide should have given you a clear message about which one is right for you.
If you’re looking for the best quality on the market, Thule is likely to be the best choice for you—at the same time, Malone offers quality products at a highly affordable price. If you’re on a budget, they may be the way to go.